Defying gravity with grace and power: What does it take to be a good mallakhamb artist?

Swift, malleable and rubber-band like, the bodies tie themselves to an apparatus to perform one flow after another – sometimes, standing straight up on top of the fixed pole, sometimes, hanging in a plank position with just the thighs wrapped around the pole.

In mallakhamb, these apparatus’ are a pole – fixed or hanging – or a rope. These flows are informally referred to as elements. A common notion is that while acrobatic in appearance, this indigenous sport is, in fact, literally wrestling with a pole more than it is gymnastics.

The sport is finding its footing in such a way that it is possible that we may see it become a demonstration sport in the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. As this sport with Indian roots gains popularity across the globe, mallakhamb artists also assert that excelling in it also paves the way for progress and success in other sports.

So, what is so unique about the training to be good at mallakhamb?

“If a good mallakhamb artist dedicates their body to the sport for a year or two, they can progress very easily in any other sport then. Mallakhamb not only has wrestling, but also acrobatics, gymnastics along with yoga,” Dr Ashish Mehta told Scroll during the Khelo India...

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